Creative Catalog Copy: A Must for Web Businesses

Too many times, small online businesses forget about Internet marketing when they are setting up their catalog descriptions. You do not want to use the same old descriptions that came with the product that everyone else on the Web uses. You need fresh material.

Thanks for an article by Vangie Beal that reinforces what is important for Web marketing.  As she notes, product descriptions that just cover the basics and are a rehash of what the manufacturer sent with the item are not enough for today’s customers. 

Plus, Google does not like when it sees the same copy at many different sites. If you are using the same descriptions of products as those of many of your competitors. Your copy, regardless of the keywords, may be ignored.  

Yes, it takes a great deal of time to write new, fresh copy for your products. It’s worth it. The potential buyers are much more interested in what you have to sell and the search engines are much more apt to pick up your copy.

No one should know your potential buyers than you. You should be able to write copy that caters to their specific needs. If you are selling health products, and most of your customers are baby boomers, then relate the copy to this target age. 

When you are writing your copy, you want to make sure that you put in your key words. Remember, not too many! And, they have to make sense as used.

You may also want to write product reviews of the newly introduced items. Ask your customers to rank them and send in their own personal thoughts, which helps others with their decision making and lets your customers know that you care about their input.

Remember when you are writing copy to mention other items that may be of interest to these customers, as well. In the dog food description, mention doggie snacks, for example, and link to those products.

Online Businesses Use Videos for Product Info

An interesting article in REELSEO explains how increasing numbers of online buyers are looking for product descriptions and/or review before purchasing.  How are you using videos?

When YouTube first became popular, everyone looked for the most inane video, like someone eating a bag of worms. YouTube has come a long way, and now it is time for small online businesses to add videos to its marketing mix.

Online buyers are going to different video sites to find answers to their product or service questions.  If they are lucky, these potential buyers can see a short video on how several products compare or more  indepth information on a specific item that interests them.  If it is the actual business that sells the product that made the video, the buyer will link to the site to find out more information or make a purchase.

The bottom line: You should be using videos to promote your business. YouTube, for example, is the second most popular search engine.  Videos are not difficult to make and some of them will actually add to your search engine optimization. 

Videos are not difficult to make: One camera, good sound system, and some lighting and you are all set. You can even sit at your computer and make a video right from your office chair.

You may also want to check services such as Treepodia that uploads an e-commerce vendor’s entire catalog of product videos to YouTube.com, Google Video, Metacafe, Dailymotion and other video sites.

This is a great way that you can stand out from your competition and establish a stronger relationship with your present and future customers. It’s just a few minutes of work for a lot of exposure.

Yellow Pages for Small Businesses Going! Gone?

The Internet has greatly changed  marketing and communication in just a matter of a decade. This includes the yellow pages. Small online businesses are quickly learning that their customers and potential customers and/or clients will google their names rather than look in the telephone books. 

Does this mean that you should drop the yellow page ad for your brick-and-mortar or your service business? No.

Unless you have only an online presence, you do not have to think about other media. If you have both an offline and online presence or just an offline business or service, you need to spread the wealth of your marketing budget. You should be in the print yellow pages, have a Web site online with your business information. It does not have to be an expensive site with millions of bells and whistles. Just something clear and information with the right information. 

You cannot second guess where people will go 100 percent of the time to find you.  Small businesses have to be creative. In order to keep competitive, you have to put your eggs in multiple baskets. That means, you cannot reach most of your target audience with one marketing vehicle.

Where you list your services or products also depends on what you sell. Local items, such as car repair shops or jewelry stores will definitely want to be online and in print. Other services, such as travel, you may want to put more of an emphasis with the Internet.

Also, you know your customers best. If you live in a small town, and most of your customers are word of mouth or see you driving by, then you will want more visibility in the traditional yellow pages. Similarly, where are your hottest competitors listed? You need to be there, as well.

When people call you or come into your store or contact you online, ask  how they found out about you. Keep track of these marketing statistics, and review them when it is time to establish your annual marketing plan.

Use the Internet marketing to your advantage. Make sure you come up on the Google map. Also, keep abreast of new services, such as the Google “enhanced listings” service, which lets businesses call attention to themselves with a special feature, such as a sale, free giveaway or monthly menu items.

Turn Your Computers into an E-Reader

Would you like an e-reader but not want to pay the $300 or so for the Kindle or its competition? Lifehacker gives you the ins and outs, actually the lefts and rights ups and downs of how to convert your mini-notebook or netbook into an electronic book reader.  Also, don’t forget about the Microsoft e-reader.

1) Turn your mini-notebook sideways.

2) Use the  EeeRotate application to turn the screen so it is facing the same direction as the computer.

3) Adjust the brightness of the screen to its lowest setting or see if you can turn it off all together.

4) Maximize your battery’s power by setting up the special power saving mode.

5) Decide on which free e-reader software you want to add, such as Kindle for the PC, Calibre, or MobiPocket Reader Desktop.

6) Start reading!

Another option that has been out for some time is the Microsoft Reader, which is a free program for Windows that can been downloaded.  You can also use it on a PocketPC by using Cleartype Technology for reading on small PDA screens. Books are displayed in the .LIT (literature) file format, which is based on the Microsoft Compressed HTML Help format.  Boks can be bought and and downloaded from online stores, but not Amazon.com.

The Kindle is easier to use and has more choices of books, but options are always good to look at.  Sometimes it is nice when it is not necessary to carry around four or five different electronic “toys,” when one or two that are a little less convenient can handle more functions.

Starting E-store: LLC, Sole, Partnership, Corp

 Before you start your online business and write your Internet business plan and online marketing plan, you will need to determine your status as a business owner. Here are the choices you have:

–Sole Proprietorship:This is an unincorporated business that is owned by one person. A large majority of small businesses are sole proprietorships, but give their business a name different from their own.   For example, Robert McManus may name his business as Around The town.  His business would be officially registered as Robert McManus d/b/a (“doing business as”) Around the Town.

– Partnership:  This is established when two or more individuals agree to enter into a business together with each person contributing a share of money, property, and/or labor or skill to the business as well as a proportionate level of the business’ profits or losses.

 –Corporation:  With this structure, the shareholders contribute money and/or property in exchange for a proportionate share of the company’s capital stock. A corporation can be privately held or traded on a public stock market following an initial public offering (IPO). ABC Corporation, Inc. is an example of a corporate name.

–S Corporation:  Eligible domestic corporations can elect to become an S corporation, which is taxed more favorably than a regular corporation. 

–Limited Liability Company:  This is also known as an LLC, a relatively new business entity. Like a corporation, the owners have a reduced risk of liability for the company’s losses and actions, but other features are similar to partnerships (e.g., management flexibility and pass-through taxation). Most LLCs use that moniker in their name:  Around the Town, LLC.

When you start your business, you must register your type of business and get a business license.  You will choose one of the legal types noted above and then get a tax identification form and license for that type of  business.  If you use a name other than your own, you must file a DBA or incorporate.

 A DBA, which is also called a fictitious, trade, or assumed business name, is the least expensive and easiest structure to form, but it does not protect your personal assets.  It is usually recommended for small Internet businesses to establish an LLC  or corporation, because it provides legal protection from liability transactions that develop out of business dealings. Establishing an LLC or corporation is an important step in creating a stable business structure.

 As a sole proprietor or a partnership you are liable for any taxes and civil wrongs suits against you.  There is the risk of losing your personal assets in addition to those of the business. An LLC and corporation protect you since they are independent legal entities.  When filing as an LLC, you indirectly own the company and are a shareholder instead of the owner.    

There is no difference between an LLC and a corporation.  The LLC is a newer legal entity, which is easier to run and provides more options and flexibility. Each one has its own benefits and disadvantages, so ask your attorney or accountant which is best for you.

Start Niche Online Business: Best 199 Ideas

All the information you want to start  a successful online niche. Learn everything from idea concept to marketing ideas. Start your successful online business today.

If you ever considered starting an online business, now is the time. In the 2009 holiday season, the Internet businesses had an exceptional sale season.

Perhaps you don’t know what type of business to start. You have a lot of ideas, but do not know which one is best. Or, you need some examples to get your imagination going. It is all in “Internet Businesses You Can Start for Less than $1,000″

Perhaps you have a great idea, but need information on the type of Web site to have, the way to order products, the Internet marketing to get your product noticed. All these topics are included in this book, and more. You can read about 199 other successful niche businesses.

Or, maybe you have a web site that is just going up, or has been up for a short while, and you need some additional tips to get it rolling.  “Internet Businesses You Can Start for Less than $1,000″ will give you loads of online marketing idea–blogs, product copy, Web site copy, e-mails, social media. What about writing e-books or e-reports to get people to your site?

Are you ready to start your new adventure? Here’s the way to do it. Let 2010 be the best year ever!